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The king of all back exercises is the pull-up. If you want impressive upper body strength and size, then pull-ups should be your go-to exercise. It’s common to use wall-mounted or doorway pull-up bars if you train at home, but they can ruin your wall or doorframe over the long run. Keep in mind that in general, home pull-up bars won’t be fully secure and stable unless metal mounting brackets are drilled into a solid wall.
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What is a Free Standing Pull-Up Bar?
First, let’s make sure we understand each other. Free-standing pull up bars are different from doorway pull-up bars or wall-mounted ones. These are “free-standing”, which means they don’t need to be mounted to a door or drilled into a wall. Free-Standing pull-up bars do generally require a bit more space, but are definitely more stable and sturdy, especially for taller/heavier users. It’s the type of pull-up bars you generally find at the gym.
Freestanding pull-up bars are great for taller users and are also great for home or garage training. They are safer and offer more versatile workouts such as pull-ups, chin-ups, muscle-ups, and hanging leg raises which can help you develop serious grip strength.
If you’re looking for easy-to-install home pull-up bars, you might be interested in our rankings for the top seven wall-mounted pull-up bars for your home gym. Keep reading to learn more about the best free-standing pull-up bars for calisthenics available on Amazon.
Freestanding Pull Up Bar Buyer’s Guide
Space Available
Freestanding pull-up bars are simple to set up. But they require much more space than a standard door frame pull-up bar. Measure the space you have available at home to find out if it will fit under your ceiling, and make sure there’s no furniture in the surrounding area to get in the way. Some setups in my recommendation list below have an upright height of up to 93”.
Weight Capacity
This is an important aspect when choosing a pull-up bar. Generally, freestanding pull-up bars will have a higher weight capacity than doorway pull-up bars. This shouldn’t be a problem for most people but do not use the bar if your weight exceeds the max capacity recommended by the manufacturer.
Bodyweight training is scientifically proven to positively affect body composition, flexibility, power, blood pressure, blood sugar, excess weight, and more. Training pull-ups at least three times a week for eight weeks can provide positive outcomes when it comes to body composition.
Pull Up Bar Height
One reason why you might prefer a freestanding pull-up bar is that it’ll give you enough room to extend your arms and legs fully without having to bend the knees. This will provide you with more gains through a full range of movement.
Versatility
A highly versatile setup allows you to practice a full range of exercises including pull-ups, dips, hanging leg raises, muscle ups, and front and back levers. Some will come with a simple straight bar where you can do all these exercises, and some models such as the power tower will have grip variety options such as neutral grip options.
Consider what exercise variations will help you to achieve your goals. Personally, a single straight bar is more than enough to get the job done. The benefits of calisthenics are to improve strength and endurance without the need for any special equipment and places.
Best Free Standing Pull Up Bars
If you’re looking for the best free-standing pull-up bars, look no further. With one of these, you can build upper body strength at home using nothing but your body weight as resistance.
1. Sportsroyal Power Tower Dip Station
Price: $209.98
Amazon shortlink: https://amzn.to/3Ln3Xez
Specifications: Multi-functional equipment, 4-in-1 station fitness equipment, sturdy construction with extra long H-shape base support
Max weight recommendation: 400lbs/181kg
Item dimension: 39.7 x 39.7 x 64.56-88.18 inches (LxWxH)
Pros:
- Extremely versatile equipment
- Adjustable pull-up bar height
- Comfortable and durable leather pads to give users a comfortable workout
Cons:
- Can be wobbly
- Assembly can take time
For a home gymer whos looking for a simple and versatile workout station, a Sportsroyal power tower is a great option. It has sturdy construction with a double stability H-shape base that provides eight support points to reduce instability.
With this power tower, you’ll be able to perform pull-ups, chin-ups, vertical leg raises, and push-ups. Also, it will accommodate most heights with its 6 adjustable bar levels so that you can fully extend your legs. The only drawback with this, however, is that it could take you a while to build as it has many nuts and bolts.
2. Fitness Reality Squat Rack Power Cage
Price: $294.85
Amazon shortlink: https://amzn.to/3BN7iQS
Specifications: Multi-functional equipment, multi-position chin-up/pull-up bars, two sets of safety bars for squats
Max weight recommendation: 800lbs/365kg
Item dimension: 50 x 46 x 83 inches (LxWxH)
Pros:
- Extremely versatile equipment
- Reversible pull-up bars for lower ceilings
- Solid steel frame construction for enhanced stability
Cons:
- Big and bulky
- Not great if you are over 6”2 as it may be too small for you
The Fitness Reality power cage is great for a calisthenics enthusiast who is looking to build strength and muscle at home. If your ceiling is high enough, you can practice muscle-ups. Another awesome thing about this equipment is the squat rack and bars which are adjustable for different height levels. Therefore, you can do a full-body workout at home including pull-ups, push-ups, dips, hanging leg raises, and squats.
On the bad side, it’s on the bulky side and will require a lot of floor space and a high ceiling. Ideal for garage gyms, but not for someone who lives in an apartment. Another negative is that you will not be able to extend your arms and legs fully if you’re tall.
3. Cap Barbell FM-905Q Stand Power Rack
Price: $124.00
Amazon shortlink: https://amzn.to/3xyI5XK
Specifications: Multi-functional equipment, high-quality steel construction for safety and reliability, color variety options
Max weight recommendation: 600lbs/272kg
Item dimension: 50 x 46 x 85 inches (LxWxH)
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Can perform a variety of exercises
- Great for small apartments
Cons:
- Not ideal for intermediate/advanced lifters
- Instructions are not straightforward
This barbell stand power rack is one of the best and cheapest free-standing pull-up bars you can find on Amazon. It’s designed for heavy use in mind and it has multiple features giving you a wide range of exercise options such as pull-ups, bench presses, shrugs, squats, hanging leg raises, and more.
It is stable enough that you can do muscle-ups and pull-ups with no problem without being mounted to the floor. For extra stability, you can load it with weights or sandbags. Budget-friendly equipment that is powder coated and ideal for those who live in apartments or have less space.
4.Khan Trin Foldable Free Standing Pull-Up Bar
Price: $369.99
Amazon shortlink: https://amzn.to/3LmZiJv
Specifications: Foldable and versatile, adjustable height, multi-purpose
Max weight recommendation: 771lbs/350kg
Item dimension: 70.87 x 43.31 x 76.7-100.4 inches (LxWxH)
Pros:
- Great for those who love calisthenics
- Fold up easily and portable
- Adjustable height
- 5 years warranty
Cons:
- Hard to assemble
- Big and bulky
- Expensive
The Khan Trin free-standing pull-up bar will meet your comfort and workout needs when it comes to fundamental calisthenics exercises such as pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, and leg raises. It is foldable and versatile, you can use it anywhere whether it’s at home, garage, outdoors, in the gym, or office. Your toes will not touch the ground if you’re under 6”5 so your movements will not be limited.
Great combination with gymnastic rings or TRX for bodyweight exercises, you can even hang a punching bag from the bar and crank out cardio. However, this product is pricey and takes up a lot of room.
5.Rogue MIL Pull-Up Station
Price: $525.00
Amazon shortlink: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-mil-pull-up-station
Specifications: Made in the USA, quality rogue steel construction using 11-gauge steel tubing, black power-coat finish
Max weight recommendation: 771lbs/350kg
Item dimension: 67 x 48 x 86-90 inches (LxWxH)
Pros:
- High-quality build and robust design
- Sturdy for kipping movements
- Versatile, it can be disassembled and easily packed away, and its easily transported
Cons:
- Expensive
Rouge Fitness is well known for providing high-quality products that are made to last. The Rouge MIL Pull-Up station offers a sleek design that is built for the required specs of the Army Combat Fitness Tests events. The 11-gauge steel design implies that the frame will not be going anywhere once it’s been set up. Built for stability and long-term durability, and will accommodate different height levels with its adjustable height (86” to 90” height).
The big disadvantage is the cost, which is the most expensive on my recommendation list. It also has low versatility which means you will be able to perform parallel dips and use neutral grip variation for pull-ups.
At Home Pull Up Bars
Pull-up bars comes it different shape, sizes, and the way you anchor them. You can install a doorway pull-up bar, wall-mounted pull-up bar, ceiling-mounted pull-up bar, and a freestanding pull-up bar at your home gym. We highly recommend you check out our top picks for these different types of pull-up bars:
- The Best Wall Mounted Pull Up Bars for Your Home Gym – Gymless Fitness
- Best Pull Up Bar For Calisthenics (Buyer’s Guide)
- Top 5 Best Doorway Pull Up Bar (2024 Buyer’s Guide)
The Takeaways: Free Standing Pull Up Bars
Here you have many reasons why having a free-standing pull-up bar is great for your home workouts. However, there are many pitfalls when deciding which is best for you when considering height options, max weight capacity, ability to withstand outdoor conditions, and remaining robust when doing heavy exercises.
Our best pick is the Sportsroyal Power Tower Dip Station, which offers versatility when you work out. It is multifunctional, sturdy, and ergonomically designed, and the price is fair. For those who are on a budget, we recommend the Cap Barbell FM-905Q Stand Power Rack.
If you want more home or garage gym set-up inspirations then check out these reviews I’ve written:
- Garage Gym Reviews: Top 10 Home Garage Gyms Compared
- The Best Weight Vests For Your Home Workouts (2024)
- Top 5 Neck Exercising Machines and Devices (2024)
- Top 10 Dip Bars For Home + Buyer’s Guide (2024)
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I’m Pat Chadwick, a qualified Level 2 and Level 3 calisthenics coach and certified personal trainer from London, England. I have over six years of experience training students specifically in the art of calisthenics. I’ve competed in various UK competitions, including the Kalos Stenos Championships, where I achieved third place in the lightweight category. My passion is highlighting the beauty of calisthenics as an authentic and pure form of body expression. I believe that everyone has the potential to become a champion of their body and mind, and that calisthenics opens the door to personal empowerment.